Europeans, Canada, Australia issue first rebuke of Saudi Arabia at U.N. rights forum

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

GENEVA (Reuters) - Three dozen countries, including all 28 EU members, called on Saudi Arabia on Thursday to release 10 activists and cooperate with a U.N.-led investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at its Istanbul consulate.

It was the first rebuke of the kingdom at the U.N. Human Rights Council since it was set up in 2006 and came amid growing international concern about Saudi violations of basic freedoms such as freedom of expression.

“It is a success for Europe to be united on this,” an envoy of an EU country told Reuters.

The unprecedented joint statement, also backed by Canada and Australia but not the United States, was read out by Harald Aspelund, Iceland’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. There was no immediate Saudi reaction.

-snip-

WORLD NEWS MARCH 7, 2019 / 5:41 AM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO
Stephanie Nebehay
4 MIN READ


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-rights-un/europeans-canada-australia-issue-first-rebuke-of-saudi-arabia-at-u-n-rights-forum-idUSKCN1QO15B

[OnlinePoker]

1. Yah, but they'll continue selling arms to them. n/t

[Mr. Smith]

2. Germany Extends Saudi Arabia Arms Sales Ban

Germany Extends Saudi Arabia Arms Sales Ban

Germany has extended a temporary ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia, imposed due to concerns about the kingdom's role in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The embargo was due to expire on March 9, but Germany's foreign minister said on Wednesday the ban was being extended until the end of March to give the government time to evaluate Saudi Arabia's military involvement in Yemen's war.

"We decided this with a view to developments in Yemen," Heiko Maas said after a meeting of Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet. "We believe that the Yemen war must end as soon as possible."

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. In 2012, the US govt gave Samar Badawi an International Women of Courage award; now they

won't even object to her detention.

In one of the world’s most restrictive environments for women, Samar Badawi is a powerful voice for two of the most significant issues facing Saudi women: women's suffrage and the guardianship system, under which women cannot marry, work, or travel without a guardian’s (male relative) permission. In a landmark case, Badawi was the first woman to sue her father for abusing the guardian system and preventing her from marrying the suitor of her choice. She is also the first woman to file a lawsuit against the government demanding the right for women to vote, and launched an online campaign to encourage other women to file similar suits. The efforts of activists like Badawi helped encourage a royal decree allowing women to vote and run for office in future municipal elections.

https://2009-2017.state.gov/s/gwi/iwoc/2012/bio/index.htm

In 2016, they drew attention to a travel ban on her:

Prominent activist Waleed Abu al-Khair continued to serve a 15-year sentence imposed by
Saudi Arabia’s terrorism court that convicted him in 2014 on charges stemming solely from
his peaceful criticism in media interviews and on social media of human rights
abuses. Authorities imposed a foreign travel ban on Samar Badawi, Abu al-Khair’s wife, in
December 2014; earlier, she had travelled to Geneva to inform the United Nations Human
Rights Council of her husband’s case.

https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/pages/attachments/2016/01/29/hrw_2016_saudi-arabia.pdf

Meanwhile, the Trump regime withdraws the award from a journalist for criticizing Trump: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142281348

[Mr. Smith]

4. How low can they go? Apparently, there is no bottom.